Valmiera to host 2030 UCI BMX Racing World Championships
Valmiera has been confirmed as the host of the 2030 UCI BMX Racing World Championships, making Latvia the first Baltic state to hold a UCI cycling world championship. The event will take place at the Māris Štrombergs BMX track.
The International Cycling Union (UCI) announced on September 23 at its congress in Montreal that Valmiera will host the 2030 BMX Racing World Championships. This makes Latvia the first Baltic country ever to organize a UCI world championship in any cycling discipline.
The competition is scheduled to take place at the Māris Štrombergs BMX track. Latvia won the hosting rights over rival bids from Denmark and Saudi Arabia. The Latvian bid was jointly prepared by the Latvian Cycling Federation, the Māris Štrombergs Agency foundation, and the Valmiera municipality.
Historical roots
Valmiera is regarded as the birthplace of BMX in Latvia — the country's first BMX track was built at Baiļu kalns in 1988, hosting the first competitions of its kind. Over the years the city has built a strong BMX community of athletes, coaches, clubs and organizers. The city is also closely tied to two-time Olympic champion Māris Štrombergs, after whom the track is named.
Valmiera has already proven its ability to host top-level BMX events, having staged the UEC BMX European Championships in 2019 and 2025. The 2025 edition drew 1,248 athletes from 23 countries, making it the largest BMX event held in Latvia to date.
Sandis Āķis, president of the Latvian Cycling Federation, said the UCI's decision — made amid a complex geopolitical situation and strong competition from Denmark and Saudi Arabia — represents significant recognition of the long-term work of the federation and the wider BMX community, noting that much of the federation's effort took place behind the scenes through dialogue with international partners.
Jānis Baiks, chairman of the Valmiera municipal council, emphasized that BMX has become part of Valmiera's identity and expressed hope that the championship will benefit not only sport but also local businesses such as hotels, caterers and the tourism sector.
